Illinois hospice company owner charged with fraud

CHICAGO – Authorities accuse an owner of an Illinois hospice company of fraudulently boosting care levels and even extending care to patients who weren’t near death in order to get higher payments from Medicare and Medicaid.

The U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago said Monday that 46-year-old Seth Gillman is charged with health care fraud and obstructing auditors. If convicted, the Lincolnwood man faces 15 years in prison.

Gillman is part owner of Lisle-based Passages Hospice. Prosecutors said he encouraged nurses to switch patients from routine to much-costlier general care.

Prosecutors said in one instance, Passages submitted hospice bills for a woman for four years – even though she didn’t appear to be in danger of dying immediately.

A message left at Passages’ headquarters seeking comment wasn’t returned.